Automatic rotary numbering machine



Oct. 24, 1933. w B w 1,931,566

AUTOMATIC ROTARY NUMBERING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Illa/772. M7776.

Oct. 24, 1933. w. B. WHITE 1,931,566

AUTOMATIC ROTARY NUMBERING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor.- iflZ/z'am B Wylie.

Oct. 24, 1933. w. B. WHITE AUTOMATIC ROTARY NUMBERING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- Oct. 24, 1933. w, B. WHITE AUTOMATIC ROTARY NUMBERING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aiiornevs.

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 AUTo-lvm'ric ROTARY NUMBERING I MACHINE I 1 William B. White, Nashville, Tenn, assignor to- Marshall 83 Bruce; (16.,

pora'tion of Tennessee Nashville, Tenn-L, a cor- I Application May 15,1931. Serial No. 537,560

-s- Claims. (01. 101;) Y I showingits attachment to one or the numbering- This invention relates to printing equipment and particularly improvements in. rotary machines used for numbering sheets of paper stock such as blank book pages; receipt stubs, checks and record book pages, and the primary object of the invention is to provide 'such'a machine which includes a plurality of rotatably mounted numbering-head wheels, each of wnichhasa coactin'g impression roller and both of which are rotatably interconnected by trip and actuating apparatus designed to perform the function of maintaining the parts of the machine continuous or' intermittent operation so long as stock is being fed into the machine a I A yet further object of the invehtion is' the provision of a numbering machine having. a novel combination of parts which permits of great flexibility in the use of the machine and, by virtue of its construction, allows-for greater ca;- pacity and virtually a positive operation which is carried (inaccurately and'speedily Without the use of complicated parts or expensive mechanisms. I f V i A large number "of minor objects will be in cluded in the specification, referring to the'ac' companying drawings, wherein is illustrated a typical form of the invention now in successful use, and wherein: I H I Figure l is a top planviewof arotaiy numbering machine embodying the invention; I I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same taken from the feed-in end and having parts broken away for clearn'eslsf} I f Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one side of the machine.

Figs. 4; 5, a 6 are plan, side view and front view respectively of the novel inking. mechanism built into the machine.- II

FigsQT, 8 and 9 are enlarged detailed views of the detachable inking rollerand its. associated parts, all entirely removed fromthe assembled position. I A M Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of two of the impression rollers and their related parts. I a I I Fig. 11 is a I fragmentary, vertical section through the machine along the side of one of-the impression rollers and wheels. I

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary; vertical section through a portion-of the machine taken on line XII-X-II' of Fig. 11 with one-half of each roller and wheel left in elevation. 1

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are, respectively, plan, front view, and side view of atypical numbering head head wheels. Fig. -1-6 is a perspective v'i'ewof the especially formed rule made for use with the presentnum- 'bering .machine when. setting the numbering heads. l Fig. .17 isa fragmentary; vertical section on line XVII,'XVII of Fig. 2, illustrating the mechanism. which allows wheels and rollers to come together to the printing position.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view of one set of bearings built into the machine for the two main shafts. i r f a Fig. 19 is a fragmentary, plan View of a'grip per and its associated mechanism.

Fig. 20 is a "side elevation of the gripper and parts shown in Fig. 19,.a'n'd, i Fig. 2-1 is a fragmentary showing of the gripper mechanism showing the same in the open position;

A- machine of the character contemplated might include. alarge number of units, each of which may act upontlie stock if desired, and eta predetermined time to properly position numbers at "desiredepositions upon the stock as it passes through the device. -Inz'descr-ib-ing the machine it will be necessary to set down the "specific struc= ture of but one complete set of numbering parts. In the various views parts have not beendupli= cated where it was not necessary. For instance, any number of numbering heads might be used and any predetermined n'umberxof Wheels and rollers mightbeiin'corporated, all in accordance with the 'sizeof the machine. t In constructing a numbering machine embody ing this invention; the same shouldbesuppor' ted by a frame 1 having a cross member 2am a'stay rod 3, 8311' of which combine to make up alrigid foundation forth'working parts of the 'inech anism. Frame 1 carries bearing hangers '166 at each side of the machine which support the rotatable lower shaft Q, and pillow block'sl'l'l carrying uppershaft 8. V Shafts 8 ands-arena main supporting shafts of the-machine and carry the hereinafter mentioned wheels and rolle s. Frame 1 also carries braces 5' which support an inclined feed table 6, from which paper stock'i's introduced into the machine. Arms '22 are also mounted upon frame land carry a receiving table 23', pivotally'secured, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow adjustment to any desired angle through theinterrnediac'y of standard 24. Main fram'e'l also carries cross r0ds.55"and 56, which are se-' cured in place by suitable bolts and nuts in a well knownmanner. These rods and 56 "are util conveniently positioned adjacent one corner of feed table 6. Electrical connection is made from motor 15 to outlet box 107 through flexible conduit 106, which may carry the necessary number of conducting wires. This outlet box 107 is constructed in a manner similar to those usually built into machinery of thischaracter. As is known, continuous operation of the mechanism might be affected when the operator depresses button 108. Stopping of motor 15' might be caused by depressing button 110, while button 109 is utilized for imparting intermittent or non-continuous movement to the machine.

This last mentioned and common expedient is oftentimes used for the convenience of the operator in moving the parts of the mechanism but a short distance so that adjustments may be made without trouble. Any number of numberinghead wheels may be included in this type of machine. In the instance shown, there are four in number, designated by numerals 14, 16, 18 and 20. These wheels are all mounted on shaft 8 for continuous rotation therewith, the preferable manner of so mounting being through the'use of a continuous key and key set. Coacting impression rollers 15, 1'7, 19 and 21 are mounted on shaft 9 for rotation therewith and in this instance individual keys are used to interlock shaft 9 and the four impression rollers because of the presence of the support 4, positioned intermediate the ends of shaft 9. The reason for using keys and key ways is to permit of adjustment of the sets of wheels and rollers in a longitudinal direction along the respective shaft 8 or 9. Each wheel 14, 16, 18 and 20, carries a cam 25 which actuates inking apparatus 115 forming a part of the machine and supported relatively stationary with respect to these rotating wheels. Details of this inking apparatus 115 are hereinafter specifically set down.' I

As stock in the form of sheets of paper or similar matter enters the machine from table 6, the same passes between guides '7 which-have been .adjusted and secured in position by means of set knobs 7. The stock strikes trip lever 26 (shown clearly in Fig.11) carried by rod 2'7, positioned in opposed relation tostop .28, supported by square rod 29. Rod-29 is oscillated by arm 30 and roller 30 which lies in the path of travel of cam 6'7 mounted on the side of one of the lower rollers carriedbyshaft 9. r I

' In this instance roller 21 is illustrated. When roller 30'is riding over the face of cam 6'7, stop28 isdepressed'below the edge of table 6 toallow the stock to pass on between numbering-head wheels 14, 16, ,18 and 20 and impression rollers, 15, 1'7, 19 and 21, across guide 31 and thence between rollers 32 and 33. These rollers draw the stock along by virtue of the fact that roller 33- is positively driven. Roller 32 is an, idler, coacting with driven roller 33, receiving power from shaft 9 through pulley 34, belt 35 and pulley 36, mounted on the endof roller 33. From these rollers the stock is passed to. receiving table 23 between guides 3'7 and lined up against stop 38, Guides operation of numbering-head wheels 14, 16, 18

and 20. Shaft 8, carrying these wheels has, at each end thereof, a cam 39, upon which is form d a depressed surface 39 (see Figs. 1'7 and 18),

'Cam 39 rotates with shaft 8 and as rotation takes place,.shaft 8 is allowed to drop slightly because roller 40, bearing upwardly against cam 39, enters depression 39. When this relation is established, pressure against roller 40 is released, allowing arm 41 to loosen its grip on trigger 42 and, in case there has been placed a sheet of stock on table 6 against stop 28 and beneath lever 26, stop lever 43 will fall back from the position shown in Fig. 17 and away from'engagement with trigger 42. Trigger 42 is now allowed to fall by the action of gravity and the weight of shaft 8 and parts supported thereby depresses roller 40, andarm 41 rises at the end opposite roller 40 to the limit imposed by the head of standard 44.

. Thus the numbering-head wheels 14, 16, 18 and 20, and impression rollers 15, 1'7, 19 and 21 are broughtinto contact or, in other words, to the printing position. In case there is no stock passing through the machine, counterweight 45, adjustable to any desired position along shaft 45, maintains stop lever 43, trigger 42 and arm 41 in theposition illustrated in Fig. 17. Vertical reciprocation on the part of shaft 8 is provided by using bearing blocks 48 floatingly mounted in pillow blocks 1'7'7. Their downward movement is limited against accidental falling by rod 46 and their upward movement is yieldably limited by spring 4'7. v

It becomes desirable to keep a record of stock passing-through the machine and to fulfill this object of the invention, a counter 49' is provided and alever arrangement, as shown in Fig. 1'7, incorporated so that when arm 41 is at the limit of its upward travel, arm 49 actuates the lever arm of counter 49' and. a unit is registered.

At approximately the instant when depressed surface 39' formed on cam 39 is resting on roller 40, grippers 50 are ready .to grasp theedge of the stock being introduced. Both the open and closed positions. of this gripper 50 is illustrated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21. In the more desirable form of the invention, two grippers 50 are used, being mounted on adjacent faces or rollers 1'7 and 19. Figs. 19, 20 and 21 each show a part of roller'1'7., In the open position, Fig. 21, grippers 50 approach trip 51 idler 5'7 strikes trip 51 and as it is deflected downwardly, spring 58, in partial compression at all times, is still further compressed, until it is forced just pastdead center in its travel and snaps over into the closed position shown in Figs.

19 and 20. Rod 58', attached with loose joint to the back of gripper 50, passes through spring 58 to prevent same from getting out of line and, as gripper 50 changes from one position'to another, rod 58 reciprocates through a hole 'in' holder 59.

When gripper 50 has caught the sheetof stock and pulled it inwardly a sufficient distance to allow rollers and wheels to continue the drawing force, idler 5'7 strikes-member 52' to snap gripper 50 back intothe open position. This actionis exactly the reverse of the closing opera ean-soc tion. Member 52 is mounted on bar 54,="suspended between cross rods 5'5 and 56, andi's merit similar to that shown in.F.ig.. :11,-: and

"has an opening 61 formed through thenroller flange the full width of the 'shallow' 'annul'ar groove 62 formed in the face--ofwthe=.:flange afs'ee vided with a cam 25, disposed. to strike idler roller 1 Fig. 12'). Groovef62 of each roller has a: pad 62 therein made up of some suitablefirm, soft;.ma..-

terial, covered by a strip of smooth-sheet material 64, such as paper, canvasorithe like. The ends of this material 64*are brought through opening 61 and over curvedpieceshfz-metat 163.

- The ends of this material are left loose, asi'shown at 64 in Fig. 11. Thus material 64 is heldcin-xa stretched condition around the rollers .:by.:the Wedge-shaped piece 65, he1d in place by 'spring 66'. Spring 66 may beheld in'line: bya lug on the back of wedge The purpose of pad62' and material; 64 1's to provide a surface upon which numberin'gheads 144 may strike when an impression. .is 1 made, without damaging the type fac'eshand. therarrangement shown provides an easy, rapid sway of removing the padding when same becomes packed or worn. or of providinga clean-, smooth covering material 64 when the 'onerin use-becomes worn or stained from use. "Thes'e'noveli features insure high quality work and prevent offsetting from a dirty printingsurfacel Numberinghead wheels 14, 16, 18 and 20,:carried on-shaft 8, may each supportanumbering head 144-, atypical showing being-in Figs. 1 and 2.. l- Ii.ucnbering head 144; as wellas inking app'aratusrl ld has not been shown in connection with all-:ofllthe wheels, it being sufficient to.disclose theinvenrtion by an illustration of but onefc'ompleteunit. Details of numbering head. 144- are shown "in Figs. 13, i4 15. The numbering head" 144 itself is a stock product and maybe of'any suitable type Wellknown tothe trade. 1 Its combination and location, as well as parts for supporting the same inoperative re1ation,-"are new. Holder 68 is designed to fit'between the -flan-ges of wheel 20, and the base of the holder is made to fit the annular surface thereof. Holder 68, supporting numbering head 144, is held in rigid position on the roller by set screws 70, screwed into lug pieces 69. These lug pieces 69 have beveled edges and are designed to slip to annular grooves 72 through opening 71, both formed in the annular face of each roller 14, 16, 18 and 20. Groove '72 is undercut to prevent lug 69 from falling out. But one opening 71 is provided in each wheel and all entries for any number of heads 144 used on that particular roller might be made through this single opening 71. The position of opening 71 should be opposite depressed surface 39' on cam 39 and also in proper relation with opening 61 in roller 21. Since no printing takes place at this point on roller 21, no numbering head 144 should appear between the rollers at that point. In practice, this point is deemed the beginning of the printing travel. Set screw 73 in holder 68 might be utilized to secure numbering head 144 in place. Cam 67 on roller 21 is positioned as shown in Fig. 11 with reference to opening 61, so that as the end of the same is engaged by roller 30' which actuates paper stop 28, opening 61 will be just ahead of the top of the sheet of stock to be numbered, and will be cleared when stop 28 has been at proper points.

depressed and the :sheet beginsltto pass beneath .the upper numbering-head wheels.

Toxprovid'ezimeans for: automatically disposing aiifreshlyinked roller for each revolution :of the :numberthead 144,.astationary inking apparatus 9115 :i'smounted on. red 74 adjacent each wheel 11:6,."1'8i-andt 20. This apparatus 115 is deisignedias -shown in Figszr4, 5 and 6. r 7T0: actuate. thisapparatus 'each wheel 1 is pro- "15st apparatus. 115 to. depress the; same in the di- 'IEGtiOn'iOfJthB arrow shown in. Fig. 5, as roller -75 ipasses over :cam'2'5. Thisraaction moves lever iti'ctoipu'llhdown. on connecting? .rod 77,-which moves spindle 7.8, causing grooved roller .79 .to ..mnve .over'and come in contact. with inking roller $80.3. Thisaroller may: bemade of. rubber, fiber, or similar'materialaand; in 'contact with ink drum 8.1, which receives a coating of ink from a supply keptfion plate '82. Ink intermittently taken up by roller '79 is transferred to roller 83 .which. comes iii-contact with type faces of numbering head 144. Proper PIBSS'LIIBIOf roller '83 against the type faces :is gauged and. definitely fixed. by'itracking rollers 84 'movingon flanges of the numbering-head wheel. In order that a supply of .ink': might" be. fed constantly and not too; rapidlyxtnink drum381, a ratchet-arrangement is utilized, actuated by connecting rod 77. .Each" timexicam .25 strikes roller 75 and passes 'therebeyond, an 'up andi'down. motion. of connecting Tod 17 takes place. I Ratchet 8.5 advances ."oneatootha and :with: it drum 81. Pressure of plate- '82. againstzzdrum 1i8l is regulated by a thinnh'setsscrew mounted ona spindle 86. Arm .87.:is2not:connected ito ratchet 85, but carries a pawl and coil spring 88 andhis pivotedi to the :ndiof. connecting rod 77 to serve the purpose of aaconveying the tension of spring. 88 so that the 17.6 'androller' 751 'will: be maintained in. a forward-position:readystoiride along cam 25. ."Rol'ler 79 has considerable lateral play in its -spind1e-,. whiclr is provided for-i a'purposep. When roller 1131s engaging the type face and is incontact withiiroller 79,. the grooved 'face of roller79 -tendsito; cause the: same to move; across :the face :01? roller-1'83. to "procure an even distribution of In order to make this action effective, it must be repeated each time and hence as roller 79 is brought back into contact with roller 80, the end of the spindle of roller '79 projects beyond the bearing and strikes spring 89 which flips the spindle and roller 79 back to the opposite side ready for the next inking operation.

Roller is removable for purposes of cleaning and replacing. A detail of the same is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of spindle 101 of roller 80, the chief feature of which is flange 101 forming a stop for the roller proper.

Lug 102 engages notch 103 in bushing 104 of roller 80 and when assembled, spindle and roller form a rigid unit. Between the, sides of inking mechanism 115 is inserted split collar 99 (see Figs. 5 and 6). Heavy spring 92, inserted into col-- lar 90, exerts tension against spacer 93. When the desired thrust of inking apparatus 115 is reached split collar is fastened rigidly in place by set screw 91.

A special gauge for use with this machine is shown in Fig. 16. This gauge consists of acurved bar 95, on which is carried movable stops 96 and 97, each having. a set screw for fixing the same On the side of bar 95 is etched or otherwise marked, a scale having divisions 105 which are radial projections of circumferential inches (in sixteenths), figured on an arc of a ircle through points 98 and 99 of the ,two stops 96 and 9'7. The radius of the circle passing through these two points 98 and 99 will be the same as the radius of the circle passing through the points/ to shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, which would be the bottom of the'row of numerals ortype-faces 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, (Fig. 13). I 1

In using the device when stock with multiple blanks are to be numered, a measurement on a plane surface is taken between the two or more blanks in regular inches and sixteenths; the'stop 96 of bar 95 is set at 'zero on the scale and stop 97 adjusted to read a similar number of inches and 'sixteenths on the curved bar 95. Automatically, points 98 and 99 will be set so that in spacing the wheel; -a numbering head adjustably mounted thereon; an impression roller; and apparatus, op-

numbering heads 144 the application of points 98 and 99 will accurately and quickly space said heads so that when printing begins the numbers will be inserted exactly in the proper blank spaces on the stock. It is understood that many modifications might be made when constructinga machine in accordance with this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: i

1. A rotary numbering machine comprising a numbering-head wheel; an impression roller associated for synchronous movement therewith; and apparatus operable upon admitting stock to the machina'for permitting the'wheel to move to the stock numbering position, said apparatusbeing actuated by an arm disposed inthe path of travel of the stock. 1 i

2. A numbering machine comprising a rotatable wheel and coacting impression roller; apparatus to cause relative movement of said wheel and roller toward and from each other; at predetermined times; a numbering head carried by said wheel at the annularperiphery thereof; a relatively stationary inking apparatus for the numbering head; and means connecting said numbering head and wheel whereby adjustment to the desired position on the periphery of said wheel may be affected, said means including an annular undercut slot, a lug-piece slidably mounted within said slot, and members interconnecting the lug topermit the introduction of, said lug-piece intothe said slot. I be considered when setting numbering heads 144,

3. In a rotary numbering machine, a rotatable wheel; a numbering head adjustably mounted thereon; an impression roller; and apparatus, operable as said wheel is rotated, for admitting stock to the machine and disposing said wheel 'and roller in the printing position including a cam mounted; on the impression roller, a roller disposed .in the path of travel of said cam, and a stopmovable to permit entrance of stock into the machine when the cam is in engagement with said roller. 7

4. In arotary numbering machine, a rotatable erable as said wheel is rotated, for admitting stock to the machine and disposing said wheel and roller in the printing position including a cam mounted for rotation with said wheel, an arm and roller limiting the movement of said cam and wheel, and a trigger, operable to the the machine, whereby the wheel is. permitted to drop into engagement with said impression roller.

5. Inv a numbering machine, having inking apparatus a plurality of numbering head wheels; a plurality of impression rollers; means for-moving said wheels toward and from the rollers including a cam carried by each of said rollers respectively; a numbering head adjustably affixed to the annularperiphery of each wheel respectively; and a carnmounted on each wheel to engage and 0perate the saidinking apparatus.

6. Ina numbering machine, a numbering head wheel; flanges projecting radially at the annular edge of said wheel; a-numbering head; a groove formed in the annular face of said wheel and a lug slidably mounted in said groove to receive and support said numbering head at any predetermined point around said wheel, said numbering WILLIAM B. WHITE. 

